New parking rules help downtown Greensboro businesses

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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Assistant Greensboro City Manager David Parrish says the results from a series of meetings with downtown business owners will help keep shoppers coming back to downtown.

"We are glad downtown is vibrant. We want to be a partner and a part of that solution. Get shoppers safely into spaces and spend some money," Parrish said.

Instead of issuing tickets up to 6 p.m., parking enforcement officers will stop at 5 p.m. Restaurants say the earlier end time could help bring in more customers looking for an early dinner. Beginning in January, first-time parking violators will now get a warning.

Parrish adds downtown merchants and city officials also want to change the image of parking enforcement officers.

"So we are trying to make sure that we take on that ambassador approach -- it's not about enforcement."

Plans call for parking enforcement officers to hand out guides and point out places of interest in downtown Greensboro.